Catchbar safety means for knitting machines



c. R. FEGLEY 2,745,270

CATCHBAR SAFETY MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES May 15, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1952 INVENTOR CharZes Hayley ATTORNEY c. R. FEGLEY 2,745,270

CATCHBAR SAFETY MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES May 15, 1956 8 Sheets-Shest 2 Filed March 6, 1952 INVENTOR Charla? F6 1 L ATTORNEY May 15, 1956 c. R. F'EGLEY 3 7 CATCHBAR SAFETY MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 6, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jge m:

M 1; iri nu-i 7 INVENTOR Y UharLcs .OFEFZPIJ ATTORNEY y 1956 c. R. FEGLEY 2,745,270

CATCHBAR SAFETY MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 6, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 ElE- E| 6 ElE- E1 1 1 Z 55 9i 56 V, O I I O I 11 /F\ 15 l 76 12 A 1 21 INVENTOR BY 6% arliyge gle'y ATTO R N EY c. R. FEGLEY 2,745,270

CATCHBAR SAFETY MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES May 15, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 6, 1952 Charles Fe gle y INVENTOR 44W. TTORNEY y 1956 c. R. FEGLEY 2,745,270

CATCHBAR SAFETY MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 6, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR BY Charles .Ferqley A'II'TORNEY c. R. FEGLEY 2,745,270

CATCHBAR SAFETY MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES May 15, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 6, 1952 FLE J E 11 ar 85 c 8 BY y AT TORNEY May 15, 1956 c. R. FEGLEY 2,745,270

CATCHBAR SAFETY MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 6, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR CharZesR. Fe 12;

A'i'TORNEY United States Patent CATCHBAR SAFETY MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Charles R. Fegley, Laureldale, Pa., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 6, 1952, Serial No. 275,128

Claims. (Cl. 66110) This invention relates to improvements in full-fashioned knitting machines and more particularly to safety mechanism for such machines for preventing engagement of the catchbar with the sinkers when the catchbar and slur cam means become mis-timed in relation to each other.

In forming loops on a full-fashioned knitting machine, jacks are operated to progressively advance the sinkers, to sink or measure yarn between alternate pairs of needles of a bank of needles, by a slur cam which is reciprocated longitudinally of the bank of needles by the usual coulier mechanism of the machine. Immediately following the advance of the last sinker and while the slur cam still engages the last few jacks, a catchbar, operated by the camshaft of the machine starts to advance dividers to divide and indent the yarn between the remaining needles. As the slur cam passes out of the path of the last sinker the catchbar is lowered to engage the sinkers and then operated to retract and advance the sinkers and dividers in the usual manner as the needles operate to draw the new loops through and cast off the previously formed loops. When, however, the slur cam and catchbar operating means become mistime d with relation to each other, thereby permitting the slur cam to remain in the path of the jacks and sinkers as the sinkers are retracted by the catchbar, damage to the parts usually occurs.

Heretofore, safety means were provided which acted to positively maintain the catchbar in raised position until the last sinker was advanced by the slur cam. Means were also provided to stop the motor of the machine when mis-timing of the parts occurred. With this arrangement, when mis-timing of the parts occurred before the safety means released the catchbar, the machine was brought to a stop without damage to the parts. However, in many instances mis-tirning occurred after the safety means released the catchbar but before the slur cam was entirely carried beyond the sinkers. Under these conditions the momentum of the machine was usually sulficient to permit the catchbar to be lowered into engagement with the sinkers and then operated to retract the sinkers before the machine was stopped, thereby damaging the parts when the jacks were rammed against the slur cam.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide means to overcome the mentioned and other difliculties occurring in full-fashioned knitting machines when the various sinker operating mechanisms become mis-timed with relation to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fullfashioned knitting machine with positively acting means for preventing operation of the catchbar to retract the sinkers when the sinker slurring means is mis-timed with relation to said catchbar.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fullfashioned knitting machine with means synchronously operated from the slur cam operating means and the camshaft for arresting the downward movement of the catchbar and for returning it to a raised inactive position relative to the sinkers when the slur cam operating "ice means and camshaft become mis-timed in relation to each other.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction and cooperation of parts in cooperative relationship, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view taken transversely through a full-fashioned knitting machine having applied thereto one form of catchbar safety mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the sinkerhead and slur cam mechanism as viewed from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 but shown enlarged relative to Fig. 1, certain parts being omitted;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 shown on an enlarged scale relative thereto; certain parts being omitted and others broken away;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows 6-6;

Fig. 7 is a view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4, parts being shown in section and others in elevation;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of certain of the mechanism of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows 8-8, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing another form of safety mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of certain of the parts of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows 10-10;

Fig. 11 is a plan view taken substantially along the line 11l1 of Fig. 10, parts being omitted;

Fig. 12 is a detailed elevational view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 11 looking in the direction of the arrows 1212, parts being broken away and in section; I

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a further form of safety mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 14 is an elevati nal view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1:, looking in the direction of the arrows 14-14;

Fig. 15 is a plan view taken substantially along the line 15-15 of Fig. 14 parts being omitted; and

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 16-46 of Fig. 14.

In the drawings and description, only the means necessary to a complete understanding of the invention are specifically set forth; further information as to the construction and operation for other related, usual and well known knitting machine elements, mechanisms, etc., may be found in one or more of the following publications of the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pa.: The Reading Full-Fashioned Knitting Machine Parts Catalog, published in 1940, the supplement thereto entitled The Reading High Production Full-Fashioned Knitting Machine, published in 1940, and The Reading Full-Fashioned Knitting Machine Parts Catalog published in 1947.

The mechanism shown in the drawings comprises portions of a full-fashioned knitting machine in which the novel features of the several forms of the invention have been incorporated. The mechanism includes, in addition to a usual sinker-head, sinkers, slur cam means operated by the couliering means for advancing the sinkers and catchbar means operated by the main camshaft for retracting the sinkers; cam means reciprocated with the slur cam means, cam means on the main camshaft and connections between such cam means. The cam means and connections are adapted to function to arrest the downward movement of the catchbar and thereby prevent engagement of the catchbar with the sinkers when the normal operating relation between the slur cam and catchbar is disrupted.

In Fig. l of the drawings is shown a portion of the usual frame-work of a full-fashioned knitting machine including one of transverse frames 20, a front beam 21, a back beam 22, a front bed and a center bed 26. The frames 20 rotatably support a camshaft 27 having cams for operating the various machine elements including needles 30 carried in needle bars, one of which is shown at 31. The center bed 26 carries sinker-heads 32 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4), one for each of the needle bars 31, having usual transverse slots for sinkers 35 and dividers 36, and having a verge plate 37 for limiting the forward movement of the sinkers. The sinkers 35 are progressively advanced to sink or measure yarn between alternate 4 pairs of needles 30 by jacks 40 which are slurred forwardly by.a slur cam 41 carried in a housing 42 slidably mounted on a bar 43 fixed to the center bed 26. The slur cam devices (one for each sinker-head) are fixed to a connecting bar 45 which is in turn connected to and reciprocated by the usual coulier mechanism (not shown) of the machine in timed relation to the rotation of the camshaft 27.

,Immediately following advancement of the last sinker between the needles, the dividers 36 are advanced to equally divide the yarn between the remaining needles. The dividers 36 are advanced by a catchbar 46 carried by a link 50 pivotally carried on a lever 51 fixed to a back catchbar shaft 52 which is pivotally mounted in the transverse frames 20. The shaft 52 and lever 51 are operated by a cam lever 55 also fixed to the shaft 52, the lever having a cam follower 56 which is held in engagement with a cam 57 on the camshaft 27 by a spring 58. After the catchbar 46 is operated to advance the dividers 36, the catchbar is lowered to engage the sinkers 35 and the sinkers and dividers are retracted and advanced in timed relation to the needles as the loops are formed and then retracted to starting position. The catchbar 46 is then raised to disengage the sinkers for the next slurring operation.

The catchbar 46 is lowered and raised by means including an arm 60 fixed to the catchbar. The arm 60 has a usual ball and socket connection to one end of a vertical link 61 which is pivotally carried on a lever 62 fixed to a front catchbar shaft 65. The shaft 65 also has a lever 66 fixed thereto having a pin 67 which rotatably carries a cam follower which is held in engagement with a cam 71 on the camshaft 27 by a spring 73. The cam 71 has a high portion 68 which determines the raised or inactive position of the catchbar 46 and a low portion 69 which determines the lowered or sinker engaging position of the catchbar, the high and low portions of the cam being connected by inclined portions, one of which is shown at 74 in Fig. 4. The cam follower 70 is held against axial movement on the pin 67 by engagement of a member 72 with a groove in the hub of the follower, as shown in Fig. 8. It is to be understood that when the followers 56 and 70 are in engagement with the cams 57 and 71, respectively, the camshaft 27 is in its knitting position. During narrowing the camshaft is shifted to move a different set of cams into engagement with the followers 57 and 71, in the usual manner.

In order to prevent the downward movement of the catchbar 46 into full engagement with the sinkers 35 when, through accident the slur cam 41 remains in the path of the sinkers and jacks 40 as they are retracted as hereinbefore set forth, means are provided in accordance with the instant invention for arresting the downward movement of and for again returning the catchbar to its raised position. One form of means for this purpose includes a cam 75 on the camshaft 27 adapted to be engaged by a cam follower 76 slidably mounted on the pin 67 carried by the lever 66; The cam 75 is provided with low and high portions 78 ahd 79, respectively, which are connected by inclined portions 108, one of which is shown in Fig. 4. The follower 76 is shifted into and out of alignment with the cam 75 in timed relation to the slur cam movement during each knitting revolution of the cam shaft 27 by cams 77 on the connecting bar 45.. As shown in Fig. 2, the cams 77 are positioned on the connecting bar 45 so that a high part 80 of each cam engages a cam follower 81 at the end of the reciprocating movement of the connecting bar 45 either toward the right or left. The cam follower 81 is carried on one arm 82 of a lever 85 pivotally mounted on the shaft 52 between a pair of collars 86 (Fig. 5) fixed in position on the shaft. The lever 85 has a second arm 87 connected by a universal joint 90 to one end of a link 91 (Figs. 4 and 6) the other end of the link being connected by a universal joint 92 to one arm 95 of a lever 96. The lever 96 is pivotally mounted on a pin 97 (Figs. 4 and 7) fixed in a bracket 100 carried on the back beam 22 of the machine. The lever 96 has a second arm 101 pivotally connected to a shifting fork 102 the arms of which engage the opposite faces of the follower 76' (Fig. 8).

As the connecting bar 45, slur cam 41 and cams 77 are reciprocated toward the right from the position of Fig. 2, the follower 81 rides off the high part 80 of the right cam 77 and the lever 85 is turned clockwise on the shaft 52 by a spring 105 connected between the arm 82 and lever 66, as shown in Fig. 4. The lever 85 turns in the clockwise direction to a position as determined by engagement of a set screw 106, adjustably carried in an arm 107 of the lever 85, with a rod or shaft 110 carried in the frames 20. Clockwise movement of the lever 85 turns the lever 96 counterclockwise about the pin 97, to thereby shift the follower '76 to the left, from the position of Figs. 5 and 8, into alignment with the cam 75. Near the end of a normal reciprocating movement from left to right of the slur cam 41 and the connecting bar 45, the follower 81 engages the high part 80 of the left cam 77 to return the follower 76 to the position of Figs. 5 and 8. This action occurs slightly before the lever 66 operates to lower the catchbar 46 into engagement with the sinkers 35 as the follower 70, on the lever 66, rides down the inclined portion 74 connecting the high and low high part 80 of a cam 77 into engagement with the fol-' lower 81, the follower 76 remains in alignment with the cam 75. Therefore, as the camshaft 27 rotates the cam 71 and the follower 70 rides off of the high portion 68 and down the inclined portion 74 of the cam to turn the levers 66 and 62 in a counterclockwise direction to start lowering the catchbar 46 toward its sinker engaging position, the cam follower 76 engages the inclined connecting portion 108 of the cam 75 to arrest such downward movement of the catchbar. Upon continued rotation of the camshaft 27, the follower 76 rides up the inclined portion 108 to the high portion 70 of the cam which turns the levers 66 and 62 in a clockwise direction to again return the catchbar to its raised position, thereby preventing engagement of the catchbar with the sinkers.

Means is also provided in accordance with conventional practise to stop the driving motor of the machine if the camshaft 27 and connecting bar 45 become mis-timed relative to each other. The means for this purpose includes a lever 111 pivotally carried on one of the levers 51 (Fig. 3) one end of lever 111 being positioned to engage either high or low portions of a cam plate 112 secured to the connecting bar 45. The other end of the lever 111 is adapted to engage an operating lever 115 of a switch 116 which controls the electrical circuit of the machine motor. When the connecting bar 45 and camshaft 27 operate in normal timed relation. the lever 111 3 engages a high part of the cam 112 as the sinkers are advanced by the slur cam 41 and the lever engages a low part of the cam 112 before the lever 51 advances the dividers 36. Therefore, the divider advancing movement of the lever 51 moves the lever 111 into the position of Fig. 3 without actuating the lever 115. However, when the high part of cam 112 remains in engagement with lever 111 at the time the lever 51 advances the dividers, the lever 111 is turned counterclockwise on the lever 51 to trip the lever 115, thereby operating the switch 116 to open the circuit to stop the motor. A more complete showing and description of the motor stop means may be had by reference to U. S. Patent No. 2,427,163, issued to P. Schmidt et al., September 9, 1947.

Amodified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, for raising and lowering the catchbar 46 as hereinbefore set forth. This form includes a lever 119 similar to the lever 66 and fixed to the front catchbar shaft 65, and a follower 118 on the lever which is held in engagement with a cam 120 on the cam shaft 27 by a spring 124 the cam 120 being similar to the aforesaid cam 71. A cam 123, similar to the cam 75 and carried on the camshaft, coacts with a follower 121 mounted on a lever 122 pivotally carried on the shaft 65, the follower 121 being held in engagement with the cam 123 by a spring 125. The connecting bar carries cams 126, similar to the cams 77, adapted to engage a follower 127 mounted on a lever 130 pivotally carried on the back catchbar shaft 52 between a pair of collars 129 fixed to the shaft, as shown in Fig. 10. A spring 133 connected to the lever 130 and a collar 134 fixed on the shaft (Fig. 11) biases the follower 127 toward the cams 126. The lever pivotally carries one end of a link 131, the other end of which has a pin 132 for engagement in a. slot 135 in an arm 136 pivotally mounted on the shaft 65. The pin 132 is normally held in engagement with the bottom of the slot 135, as shown in Figs. 9 and 12, by a spring 137 which is connected between the link 131 and the lever 119. The link 131 has a depending portion 140 which carries a pin 141 adapted at times to be moved toward the right to a position between a pair of fingers 142 and 145 projecting from the levers 119 and 122, respectively (Figs. 9, 11 and 12). The right-hand or outermost position of the pin 141 is determined by engagement of a set screw 147, carried in an arm of the lever 130, with the shaft 110.

At the start of a reciprocating movement of the slur cam 41 to the right, as viewed in Figs. 10 and 11, to advance the sinkers 35, the follower 118 of lever 119 is in engagement with the high portion of the cam 120 and the follower 121 is in engagement with the low part of cam 123 which positions the fingers 142 and 145 the greatest distance from each other. As the follower 127 rides off the high portion of the right cam 126, the link 131 is moved to the right by the spring 133, as viewed in Fig. 9, to move the pin 141 between the fingers 142 and 145. At the end of a normal reciprocating movement the follower 127 engages the high portion of the left cam 126 (not shown) to return the pin 141 to the position of Fig. 9. Therefore, as the lever 119 is turned counterclockwise by the action of cam 120 and spring 124 to lower the catchbar 46 into engagement with the sinkers 35, and the lever 122 is turned clockwise by the cam 123, the fingers 142 and 145 are moved toward each other without interferenc'e from the pin 141.

'When, however, the slur cam 41 remains in the path of the sinkers 35 and the high portion of a cam 126 fails to engage the cam follower 127, the pin 141 will remain in its right-hand position between the fingers 142 and 145. Therefore, as the camshaft 27 rotates the cam 120 and the follower 118 rides down the inclined portion connecting the high and low portions of cam 120 to lower the catchbar 46, the downward movement of the catchbar is arrested as the finger 142 engages the pin 141. Thereupon, continued rotation of the camshaft causes the follower 121 to engage an inclined portion 146 of the earn 123. As the follower rides up said inclined portion 146 the finger 145 is turned clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 9, to engage and raise the pin 141 thereby turning lever 119 and finger 142 clockwise to return the catchbar 46 to raised inactive position prior to its movement to retract the sinkers 35.

A further form of the invention, shown in Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive, includes a lever 151, similar to the levers 66 and 119, having a cam follower 152 for engagement with a cam 155 on the camshaft 27. A cam 156, similar to the cam 75 coacts with a cam follower 157 carried on a lever 160 pivoted on a pin 159 carried in one arm 161 of a lever 162 pivotally carried on the back catchbar shaft 52 between a pair of collars 163 fixed to the shaft 52 (Fig. 14). The lever 162 has a second arm 165 which carries a cam follower 166 for engagement with cams 167 similar to the cams 77 and 126, carried on the connecting bar 45. The arm 161 of lever 162 is provided with a set screw 170 adapted to engage the shaft 110 to control the clockwise movement of the lever 162 under the influence of a spring 171 connected between the arm 165 and the lever 151, as shown in Fig. 13. The lever 160 carries an adjustable tappet screw 172 for engagement with a portion 175 of the arm 161 to determine the initial position of the follower 157 with respect to the low part of cam 156. A spring 176, connected between the portion 175 and lever 160, tends to turn the lever 160 counterclockwise about the pin 159 to move the tappet screw toward said portion 175. Lever 160 is provided with a projecting portion 177 adapted to be moved into and out of the path of corresponding projecting portion 180 on the lever 151 (Figs. l3, l4 and 16), as and for the purposes hereinafter set forth.

At the start of a normal reciprocating movement of the connecting bar 45 and slur cam 41 toward the right, as viewed from the rear of the machine (Figs. 14 and 15), at which time the follower 152 is in engagement with thehigh part of cam 155 and the follower 157 opposite the low part of the cam 156, as the follower 166 rides off the high part of a cam 167 the lever 162 is turned counterclockwise about the shaft 52 to lower the portion 177 of lever 160 into the path of the portion 180 of lever 151. At the end of such reciprocating movement, the

' follower 166 engages the high part of a cam 167 to again raise the portion 177 out of the path of portion 180 prior to the action of the cam 155 to lower the catchbar 46 as hereinbefore set forth.

However, when the follower 166 fails to re-engage the high part of a cam 167, the portion'177 remains in the path of the portion 180 so that as the cam 155 operates to lower the catchbar 46 toward engagement with the sinkers 35, the portion 180 of lever 151 engages the portion 177 of lever 160 to arrest the downward movement of the catchbar. Thereupon, as the follower 157 rides up an inclined portion 181 of the cam 156 to the high portion of the cam, lever 160 moves lever 151 to again return the catchbar 46 to its raised position.

It is to be understood that the usual knitting machine elements are given the same reference characters throughout the various views of the several modifications of the invention shown in the drawings. Further, the means for stopping the machine shown in the drawings and described in connection with the first form of the invention is a part of the usual full-fashioned knitting machine and forms no part of the present invention.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described by which the above results are obtained, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having a main camshaft, a sinker-head having sinkers, a slur cam reciprocated along said sinker-head to advance said sinkers 7 in said sinker-head, a catchbar, means operated by said camshaft in timed relation with said slur cam for glvmg said catchbar down and up movements for engaging and disengaging said sinkers and forward and back movements to advance and retract said sinkers, and means connected to said slur cam and catchbar operating means for arresting the down movement of said catchbar and for returning it to an up position prior to said forward and back movements when said slur cam and catchbar become mistimed in relation to each otherv 2. In a straight knitting machine having a main camshaft, 'a sinker-head, sinkers mounted for advancing and retracting movements in said sinker-head, a slur cam having reciprocating movement across said sinker-head for advancing said sinkers in said sinker-head, a catchbar having intermittent engagement with said sinkers, means operated from said camshaft for moving said catchbar to positions in which it is engaged with and disengaged from said sinkers, means operated from said camshaft for advancing and retracting said sinkers in said sinkerhead'when said catchbar is engaged with said sinkers and means operated synchronously from said slur cam and camshaft for arresting the movement of the catchbar toward its engaged position and returning it to its disengaged position prior to said advancing and retracting movements of said sinkers by said catchbar when said slur cam becomes mistirned in relation to said camshaft.

3. In a straight knitting machine having a camshaft, a sinker-head, sinkers mounted for advancing and retracting movements in said sinker-head, a slur cam means having reciprocating movement across said sinker-head for advancing said sinkers in said sinker-head, a catchbar means operated by said camshaft for giving said catchbar down and up movements for engaging and disengaging said sinkers and forward and back movements to advance and retract said sinkers, and means for preventing said forward and back movements of said sinkers by said catchbar when said slur cam means and camshaft becomes mistimed in relation to each other including a cam on said slur cam means, a cam on said i camshaft and connections between said cams.

4. In a straight knitting machine having a camshaft, a sinker-head, sinkers having advancing and retracting movements in said sinker-head, a slur cam means having reciprocating movement across said sinker-head for advancing said sinkers in said sinker-head, a catchbar operated by said camshaft to move said catchbar from an upper inactive position to a lower active position to engage said sinkers for advancing and retracting movements and means for arresting said catchbar during its movement to active position and for returning it to said inactive position when said slur cam and catchbar become mistimed in relation to each other including a cam on said slur cam means, a cam on said camshaft and connecting means correlating the action of said cams.

5. In a knitting machine having a camshaft, a sinkerhead, sinkers having advancing and retracting movements in said sinker-head, a slur cam means for advancing said sinkers in said sinker-head, a catchbar, means operated from said camshaft for operating said catchbar to advance and retract said sinkers in said sinkerhead independently of said slur cam means, means including a lever and a cam on said camshaft for moving said catchbar from inactive to active positions to engage said sinkers for said catchbar advancing and retracting movements, and means including said lever and a second cam on said camshaft for returning said catchbar to inactive position before said catchbar advancing and retracting movements when said slur cam means and catchbar become mistimed in relation to each other.

6. In a straight knitting machine having a camshaft, a sinker-head, sinkers in said sinker-head, a slur cam means for advancing said sinkers in said sinker-head, additional cam means carried by said slur cam means, a lever adapted to engage said additional cam means when said slur cam means is outside the end sinkers in said sinker-head, a catchbar, means operated from said camshaft for moving said catchbar to advance and retract said sinkers in the sinker-head independently of said slur cam means, means operated from said camshaft for moving said catchbar from inactive to active positions to engage said sinkers for said catchbar advancing and retracting movements, and safety means operated by said camshaft to return said catchbar to inactive position before said catchbar advancing and retracting movements when said lever fails to engage said additional cam means.

7. In a straight knitting machine having a main camshaft, a sinker-head, sinkers in said sinker-head, a slur cam means for advancing said sinkers in said sinker-head, a catchbar, means for operating said catchbar to move said sinkers forward and back in said sinker-head independently of said slur cam means, means for moving said catchbar from an inactive position to an active position to engage said sinkers for said forward and back movements including a shaft, a lever on said shaft and a cam on said camshaft for operating said lever, and means including additional cam means on said slur cam means, a member adapted to engage said additional cam means when said slur cam means is outside the end sinkers in said sinker-head, and a second cam on said camshaft for operating said lever to return said catchbar to inactive position prior to said catchbar forward and back movements when said member fails to engage said additional cam means.

8. In a straight knitting machine having a main cam shaft, a sinker-head, sinkers having forward and back movements in said sinker-head, a slur cam means for moving said sinkers forwardly in said sinker-head, a catchbar, means for operating said catchbar to move said sinkers forward and back in said sinker-head independently of said slur cam means, means for moving said catchbar from an inactive position to an active position to engage said sink rs for said forward and back movements including a shaft, a lever fixed to said shaft, a cam follower on said lever and a cam on said camshaft for engaging said cam follower, means for arresting said catchbar in its movement to active sinker engaging position and for returning said catchbar to inactive position including a second follower on said lever, a second cam on said camshaft and means controlled by said slur cam means for shifting said second follower into position for engagement with said second cam.

9. In a straight knitting machine having a main camshaft, a sinker-head, sinkers having forward and back movements in said sinker-head, a slur cam means for moving said sinkers forwardly in said sinker-head, a catchbar, means for operating said catchbar to move said sinkers forward and back in said sinker-head independently of said slur cam means, means for moving said catchbar from an inactive position to an active position to engage said sinkers for said forward and back movements including a shaft, a lever fixed to said shaft, a cam follower on said lever and a cam on said camshaft for engaging said cam follower, and means including a second cam follower on said lever, a second cam on said camshaft and means to align the second cam follower with said second cam to return the catchbar to inactive position before said forward and back movements.

10. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having a main camshaft, a sinker-head, sinkers mounted for advancing and retracting movements in said sinker-head, a slur cam means having reciprocating movement across said sinkerhead to advance said sinkers in said sinker-head, a catchbar, front catchbar operating means including a shaft, a lever fixed to said shaft, and cam means on said camshaft for moving said catchbar from an upper inactive position to a lower active position to engage said sinkers for forward and back movements in said sinker-head, and means for arresting the downward movement of said catchbar and for returning it to inactive position when said slur cam and catchbar become mistimed in relation to each other including a cam on said camshaft, a lever pivoted on said front catchbar shaft and means controlled by said slur cam means adapted to be moved into the path of said fixed and pivoted levers.

11. In a knitting machine having a main camshaft, a sinker-head, sinkers mounted for advancing and retracting movements in said sinker-head, a slur cam means for advancing said sinkers in said sinker-head, a catchbar, means for operating said catchbar to move said sinkers forward and back in said sinker-head independ ently of said slur cam means, means for moving said catchbar from an upper inactive position to a lower active position to engage said sinkers for said forward and back movements including a shaft, a lever fixed to said shaft and a cam on said camshaft, means controlled by said slur cam means for arresting the downward movement of said catchbar when said slur cam means and camshaft become mistimed in relation to each other, and means for returning the catchbar to inactive position including a cam on said camshaft.

12. In a straight knitting machine having a main camshaft, a sinker-head, sinkers in said sinker-head, slur cam means for advancing said sinkers in said sinker-head, a catchbar, means for operating said catchbar to move said sinkers forward and back in said sinker-head independently of said slur cam means, means for moving said catchbar from an inactive position to an active position to engage said sinkers for said fonvard and back movements including a shaft, a lever fixed on said shaft and a cam on said camshaft for engaging said lever, means for arresting said catchbar in its movement to active position including additional cam means on said slur cam means, a cam follower lever for engagement with said additional cam means when said slur cam means is beyond the end sinkers in said sinker-head, a lever loosely mounted on said shaft, a second cam on said camshaft for engaging said loosely mounted lever, and means connected to said cam follower lever and movable into the path of said fixed and loosely mounted levers on said shaft to arrest said catchbar in its movement to active position and to return it to inactive position when said cam follower lever fails to engage said additional cam means.

13. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having a main. camshaft, a sinker-head, sinkers mounted for advancing and retracting movements in said sinker-head, a slur cam means having reciprocating movement across said sinkerhead to advance said sinkers in said sinker-head, a catchbar, means including a lever operated by said camshaft for moving said catchbar from an upper inactive position to a lower active position to engage said sinkers for forward and back movements in said sinker-head, and means including cams on said slur cam means, a cam on said camshaft, and connecting means controlled by one of said cams and operated by the other of said cams to engage and operate said lever to arrest the downward movement of said catchbar and to return it to said inactive position when said slur cam means and catchbar are mistimed in relation to each other.

14. In a straight knitting machine having a camshaft, a sinker-head, sinkers in said sinker-head, a slur cam means for advancing said sinkers in said sinker-head, additional cam means carried by said slur cam means, a lever adapted to engage said additional cam means when said slur cam means is outside the end sinkers in said sinker-head, a catchbar, means operated from said camshaft for moving said catchbar to advance and retract said sinkers in said sinker-head independently of said slur cam means, means operated from said camshaft including a front catchbar lever for moving said catchbar from inactive to active positions for said sinker advancing and retracting movements, and safety means including said lever and additional cam means, a swinging member on said lever, and cam means on said camshaft adapted to move said swinging member to engage and move said front catchbar lever to return said catchbar to inactive position before said advancing and retracting movements of the sinkers by said catchbar when said lever fails to engage said additional cam means on said slur cam means.

15. In a straight knitting machine having a camshaft, a sinker-head, sinkers in said sinker-head, slur cam means for advancing said sinkers in said sinker-head, a catchbar, means operated from said camshaft for moving said catchbar for advancing and retracting said sinkers in said sinker-head independently of said slur cam means, a cam on said camshaft, means operated by said cam for moving said catchbar down to engage said sinkers for said advancing and retracting movements and up to disengage said sinkers, and means including a second cam on said camshaft for arresting the down movement of said catchbar by said first cam and for returning said catchbar to its up position when said slur cam means and catchbar are mistimed in relation to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

